Journal box



Dec. 18, 1934.

R. J, BRITTAIN, JR

' JOURNAL B0X Fild Feb. "26, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 M, my. .n .N an MJ. w w A .Vm w WM H Dec. 18, 1934. R. J. BRlTTAlN, JR

JOURNAL BOX Filed Feb 26, 1950 'Flepl. i

Dec. 18, 1934. R. J. BITTAIN, JR 1,984,822

' JOURNAL BOX Filed Feb. 26, 1950 `6 Sheets-Sheejt 5 D80 18, 1934 R. J. BRITTAIN, JR '1,984,822

JOURNAL BOX Filed Feb. 26, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet v6 Patented Dec. 1s, 1934 1,984,822

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFlcE JOURNAL BOX Richard J. Brittain, Jr., Bloomfield, N. J., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application February 26, 1930, Serial No. 431,455

24 Claims. (Cl. 308-80) This invention relates to journal boxes and herein shown as rollers 12 having cage rings 14. comprises all the features of novelty herein dis- The rollers run in an outer sleeve 16 abutting closed. An object of the invention is to provide against an arcuate shoulder or rib 18 in the bore improved sealing devices for preventing leakage of a housing or axle box 20. The top of the box of material either from or to a housing into has a cross recess 22 receiving a seat plate 24 5 which aV shaft projects. Another object is to prowhich is provided with retaining lugs 26 extendvde an improved cap or closure member to close ing down into longitudinal recesses in the box. the joint between a shaft and a housing which The seat plate 24 also has upwardly extending have relative rotation. Another object is to proretaining lugs 28 entering slots in an upper seat lo vide an improved breather or device for cirplate 30. 'I'he seat plate 30 is rockably mounted 10 cumventing. leakage of lubricant from a housing on the seat plate 24, the engaging surfaces 31 or leakage of foreign matter into a housing, espreferably being cylindrical with the ,center oiiset pecially when that housing is an axle box with inwardly with respect to the center of bearings an axle longitudinally shiftable therein. To 12. A rounded lug 32 of the upper seat plate is these ends and to improve generally and in dearranged to enter a recess in the usual equalizer 15 tail upon devices of this character, the invention bar (not shown) which rests on the seat plate also consists in the various matters hereinafter between side flanges 34. Each side of the box described and claimed. has crowned pedestal anges 36 covered by the In its broader aspects, the invention is not legs 38 of a U-shaped wear plate 40. The body necessarily limited .to the specific construction of the wear plate has an opening to embrace a 20 selected for illustrative purposes in the accomthickened portion 42 of the box, and upper and panying drawings in which lower lugs 44 on the plate are bent over the box Fig. l is a longitudinal vertical section of an and welded thereto. The foregoing forros, per se, axle box. no part of the present invention.

f" Fig. 2 is an end view and cross section of the The arcuate shoulder or rib 18 which abuts 25 box with the upper half'of the section taken at against the sleeve 16 extends a little below the the center and the lower half beyond the inner horizontal center of the axle where it merges end ofY the bearings. with flat side walls 50 which form a wide lubri- Fig. 3 is a plan view of one half of the box. cant receptacle 52 communicating with a cored Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a portion of the out longitudinal passage 54 below a partition 56 30 in the box. The back of the shoulder or rib 18 box.

Fig. 5 is an end view and half section of the is cut away as indicated at 58 to merge with a box. y relief groove 60 having an inturned lip 62 which Fig. 6 is an end view of a closure member. forms an annular abutment at the bore of an end Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6. flange 64 of the box. Abushing 66 having aflange 35 Fig. 8 -is a section on line 8--8 of Fig. 6. 68 to engage the lip 62 is pressed into the bore of Fig. 9 is a side view of the lower portion of the ange 64 and secured against rotation by a the closure member. x pin '10. 'I'he bushing has internal grease grooves Fig. 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Fig. 6. "12 at the axle. Referring to the detail views (Figs.

Fig. l11 is a front view of a thrust block. 6 to 1'0) of the bushing, the ange 68 is substan- 40 Fig. 12 is a vertical central section thereof. tially circular and is spaced from a second sub- Fig. 13 is a rear view. y stantially circular flange '74 to form a groove 76. Fig.'14 is a horizontal central section. Both anges, however, have extended walls '78 Fig. 15 is a rear end view of the front end cap. at the sides where the bushing is cut through at Fig. 16 is a section taken on line 16-16 of the groove 76 as will appear. The groove 76 ex- 45 Fig. 15. tends in a semi-circle around the upper half of Fig. 17 is a section taken on line 17-1'7 of the bushing and merges at axle level with verti- Flg. 15. i cal, tangential, flat' faces 80 which terminate at Fig. 18 is a front end view. 82 and are spaced from the walls 50 of the box Fig. 19 a section taken on line 19-119 of to form oil passages. 5o Fig. 18. Internally, there is a groove 84 which extends Fig. 20 is a section taken on .line 20-20 of inasemi-circle around the upper half of the bushvFig. 18. ing, one side wall of the groove merging at axle 'Ihe numeral 8 indicates a shaft or axle carrylevel with vertical, tangential flat faces 86 which ing a raceway vsleeve 10 for antifriction bearings make connecting openings 88 from one sid-.e wall 55 of the internal groove to the external groove. The other side wall of the groove 84 continues in arcuate form as at to meet at 92 a cross partition or bottom wall 94 which inclines downwardly in opposite directions from the center, narrowed extensions 96 of the bottom wall continuing on an incline through the bushing. The narrowed extensions 96 connect the extended walls 78 of the flanges 68 and 74 and form the bottom boundaries of the openings 88. 'I'he internal groove 84 and partition 94 surround an oil collecting rib or slinger 98 on the axle 8, the upper drain surfaces of the partition extending substantially tangentially from the slinger.

Lubricant which is forced out of the raceway sleeve 16 into the relief groove 60 or into the groove 76 can run directly back into the receptacle 52 through the passage formed by the box walls 50 and the bushing walls 80. Most of the lubricant which is thrown oi by the rib 98 into the upper portion of the groove 84 will drain down the flat vertical walls 86 and through the openings 88 to the receptacle. Whatever portion contines down the arcuate side walls 90 will run onto the partition 94 and down the inclined extensions 96 to the openings 88. The lubricant, however, is more likely to be thrown off by the rib near .the

bottom of the axle where gravity aids centrifugal force. Whatever lubricant is thrown 01T at this point will be directed tangentially or in the direction of slope of the partition, whichever way the axle turns. The partition further acts to prevent throwing of lubricant upwardly to the axle by the swaying of the car on curves. In any event, the tendency is to avoid any accumulation of lubricant at the low point of the axle where most leakage usually occurs. lAnother factor aiding escape of lubricant and admission of water or foreign matter, and not hitherto appreciated or provided for, is -the piston-like action of the axle in the box. This alternately causes a suction effect tending to suck in foreign matter and a pressure effect tending to blow lubricant out. The present invention avoids these disadvantages and contributes to the ecacy of the sealing bushing by a breather hereinafter described.

The front wall of the box comprises an end cap having a peripheral ange 112 clamped against a gasket by nuts 114 on threaded studs 116 which are welded to the box. The cap has a boss 118 provided with a filling opening 120 for lubricant. The cap carries spacing plates 122 and a thrust block 124 which takes the thrust of the axle. 'I'he block is preferably made of'bronze cast around a square head 126 on a threaded stud 128 which receives washers and a nut 130 to clamp the thrust block and spacing plates against the inner wall of the cap. A lubricating wick 132 extends straight down from the thrust block to the bottom of the box, passing between a cross bar 134 on the end cap and a pair of oppositely extending `lugs 136. A portion 138 of the cap extends a little way into the box at the top to oppose endwise movement of the bearings and has an internal groove 140 opposite the thrust faces to receive oil thrown from the axle and drain it to the bottom of the cap.

The thrust block, as indicated in Figs. 11 to 14, has a generally arcuate thrust face with a straight sided slot 142 for the wick. The corners are chamfered as at 144 and there is an arcuate recess 146 above-the wick which communicates through an inclined passage 148 with a cut-out 128. The block is skeletonized to save material but fiat faces 152 connected by arcuate portions 154 are left at the corners. The sides are likewise provided with similar cut-out portions but the bottom cut out 156 is shallow to leave a continuous fiat wall 158 which is straight along the bottom. The face 160 of the block is flat and cruciform where it engages the spacing plates 122 which also engage an annular fiat face 162 on the inside of the end cap around an opening 164 for thel threaded stud 128. l

Referring to Figs. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and`20 the interior of the end cap 110 has a sloping 'wall 165 between flat top walls 166 which engage the flat faces 152 at the top of the thrust block and there are arcuate surfaces 168 and 170 to surround the arcuate faces 154 on the thrust block. Short vertical walls 172 and 174 engage the flat side faces 152 of the thrust block. The fiat faces and engaging walls hold the block from rotation. Between the wall 174 and a lower vertical wall 176 the cap is cut out to make a rdead recess 178. At the bottom, there are at walls 180 to engage the bottom wall of the thrust block. On the other side, there is a short vertical side wall 182, and between this wall and the wall 172, there is a laterally inclined tapering passage 184 which communicates at the wide end with one of the side recesses 150 in the thrust block. A partition 186 separates the passage 184 from another passage 188 which communicates with the rst over the partition. The passage 188 inclines downwardly towards the center of the cap and is open to the atmosphere at 190. The passage 188 is narrowest near the top of thepartition, one end wall 192 dlverging from the opposite end wall 194. Both passages are thus tapering or funnel-like and the two form a sinuous passage from the interior of the box and cap to the atmosphere. When the shaft or axle moves towards the thrust block, the air, instead of being compressed, is exhausted, passing around the rim of the thrust block to the side recess 150 and into the passage 184. This prevents blowing oil along the axle past the grease grooves 72. When the axle moves away from the thrust block, air is sucked into the box through the sinuous passage. This prevents sucking in of foreign matter along the axle. The passages are made widest at the ends so that the velocity of the air will be least at those points and so tend to release particles of foreign matter, especially at the bottom of the box where there may be swirling dust. This also minimizes the chance of the motion of the car forcing dust-laden air into the box. The sinuous passage thus forms a breather which aids the sealing bushing in maintaining a leak proof joint at the axle.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a shaft, a housing enclosing a portion of the shaft and supporting the shaft for rotation, and a closure member for sealing the space between the shaft and the housing, the closure member having an internal drain surface inclined downwardly and laterally substantially tangentially of the shaft from a point under the shaft; substantially as described.

2. In aldevice of the character described, a shaft, a housing enclosing a portion of the shaft and supporting the shaft for rotation, and a closure member carried Yby the housing for sealing the space between the shaft and the housing, the closure member having a cross wall below the shaft and forming an obstruction to the splashing or lubricant from the' housing to the shaft,

, sure member carried by the housing for sealing the space between the shaft and the housing, the closure member having an internal drain groove receiving lubricant from the shaftthe closure 'member having a side opening therethrough at one'side of the shaft and leading from the groove to the housing, and the closure member also having an imperforate obstructing wall extending across the under side of the shaft and terminating at the side opening; substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, a shaft, a housing enclosing a portion of the shaft and supporting the shaft for rotation, and a closure member for sealing the space between the shaft and the housing, the closure member having an obstructing wall across the under side of the shaft, and the upper surface of said wall inclining downwardly in opposite directions from a point under the shaft; substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, a shaft, a housing enclosing a portion of the shaft and supporting the shaft for rotation, and a closure member for sealing the space between the shaft and the housing, the closure member having an internalA groove interrupted by openings at opposite sides of the shaft, and oppositely inclined drain surfaces extending laterally from a point under the shaft to the openings; substantially as described.

6. In a device of the character described, a shaft, a housing enclosing a portion of the shaft and supporting the shaft forvv rotation, anda closure member carried by the housing for sealing the space between the shaft and the housing, the closure member having an internal drain groove receiving lubricant from the shaft, the opposite sides of the groove communicating with side openings leading through the closure member to the housing, and the lower portion of the closure member extending across the under side of the shaft and inclined downwardly towards the side openings; substantially as described.

7. In a device of the character described, a shaft, a housing enclosing a portion of the shaft and supporting the shaft for rotation, and a closure member for sealing the space between the shaft and the housing and comprising two unlike portions, the closure member having an imperforate upper portion with an internal drain v groove of arcuate form surrounding the upper portion of the shaft, and the member being xed to the housing and having its lower portion provided with internal drain surfaces in the plane Y of the drain groove and inclining downwardly in opposite directions from a point under the shaft; substantially as described.

8. In a device of the character described, a. shaft; a housing enclosing a portion of the shaft and supporting the shaft for rotation, and a closure member for sealing the space between the shaft and the housing, the closure member having grease gr'ooves at the shaft, and an obstructing wall extending across the under side of the shaft Aand having its upper surface inclined laterally to a point at one side of the shaft for draining lubricant from that portion of the shaft which is adjacent to the grease grooves while preventing direct access of lubricant from the housing to said portion of the shaft; substantially as described.

9. In a device of the character described, a

shaft, a housing enclosing a portion of the shaft and supporting the shaft for rotation, and a closure member for sealing the space between the shaft and the housing, the closure member having an external groove and an internal groove and a side opening located at the side of the lshaft and leading through the closure member from the internal groove to the external groove; substantially as described. 1

10. In a device of the character described, a shaft, a housing enclosing a portion of the shaft and having a bearing supporting the shaft for rotation, and a closure member for sealing the space between the shaft and'the housing, the closure member having an external drain groove to receive lubricant from the bearing and drain it to the housing, the member also having an internal drain groove with oppositely inclined drain surfaces to receive lubricant from the shaft and drain it to the housing; substantially as described.

11. In a device of the character described, a shaft, a housing enclosing a vportion of the shaft and having a bearing supporting the shaft for rotation, and a closure member for sealing the space between the shaft and the housing, the member having an external drain groove to receive lubricant from the bearing and drain it to the housing, the member also having an internal drain groove to receive lubricant from the shaft, the internal drain groove having an inclined portion leadinglaterally to a side opening extending through the sealing member at one side of the shaft; substantially as described.

12. Inv a device of the character described, a shaft, a housing enclosing a portion of the shaft, a bearing providing for relative rotation between the shaft and the housing, the housing having an internal abutment, a sealing bushing between the housing and the .shaft and having a flange engaging said abutment, and the bushing having an extended portion spaced from the inner wall of the housing to provide a relief groove at the end of the bearing; substantially asdescribed.

13. In a device of the character described, a

` shaft, a housing enclosing a portion of the shaft,

a bearing providing for relative rotation between the shaft and housing, the shaft and the housing also having freedom for relative axial shifting, and a breather for neutralizing the pumping effect of the relative shifting, said breather comprisinga crooked passage opening upwardly from the interior of the housing and opening downwardly to the exterior thereof the middle portion of the passage having a smaller cross sectional area than the ends; substantially as described.

14. In a device of the character described, a shaft, a housing enclosing a portion of the shaft, a bearing providing for relative rotation between the shaft and the housing, the shaft and housing also having freedom for relative axial shifting, and a breather comprising a passage leading from the interior of the housing to the exterior, the passagev narrowing upwardly from the interior and widening downwardly to the exterior; substantially as described.

15. In a device of the character described, a

shaft, a housing enclosing a portion of the shaft,

also having freedom for relative axial shifting, a cap closing an end of the housing, a thrust block carried by the cap and having a. side recess and the cap having a passage leading from the side recess to the exterior of the housing; substantially as described.

16. In a device of the character described, an axle, an axle box enclosing the end of' the axle and supporting the axle for rotation and axial shifting, the rear end of the box having a sealed joint with the axle, and the front end of the box carrying a thrust block with a side recess, said end of the box having a passage leading laterally and upwardly from the side recess, and the passage connecting with a downwardly extending passage communicating with the atmosphere; substantially as described.

17. A journal box end cap having an internal recess, the recess opening into an upwardly extending passage, and-the cap also having a passage extending downwardly from the first passage to the exterior of the cap; substantially as described.

18. In a device of the character described, a housing having a lubricant reservoir, a shaft extending into the housing, a closure member between the shaft and the housing and having an extension projecting into the housing and spaced from the surrounding portion of the housing, and the extension interposing an imperforate obstruction between the reservoir and the bottom portion of the shaft and having an opening positioned at the side of the shaft; substantially as described.

19. In a device of the character described, a housing having a lubricant reservoir, a shaft extending into the housing, a closure member between the-`shaft land the housing and having an extension projecting into the housing and spaced from the surrounding portion of the' housing, the extension having an internal groove, the extension being imperforate between the reservoir and the bottom of the shaft and having a side opening to conduct lubricant from the internal groove to the reservoir; substantially as described.

20. In a device of the character described, a housing having a lubricant reservoir, a shaft extending into the housing, a substantially annular member surrounding the shaft and having a space between a portion of its outer surface and a surrounding portion of the housing, said member being stationary and having an internalgroove and an opening leading 'from said groove and positioned to one side of the bottom of the shaft; substantially as described.

21. In a device of the character described, a housing, a shaft extending into the housing, a closure member between the shaft and the housing and fixed to the latter, there being a space between a portion of the outer surface of the closure member and the surrounding wall of the housing, and means carried by the closure member to close off said space from the shaft except at a location laterally removed from the bottom of the shaft; substantially as described.

22. In a device of the character described, a housing having a lubricant reservoir, a shaft extending into the housing, a bearing between the shaft and the housing, a closure member between the shaft and the housing and having an extension projecting into the housing, the closure member being secured to the housing and there being a space between the extension and the housing beyond said bearing, the end of the extension having a guide face for the bearing, and

the extension being spaced from the shaft and interposing an imperforate obstruction between the reservoir andthe bottom portion of the shaft; substantially as described.

23. In a device of the character described, a

housing having a lubricant reservoir, a shaft extending into the housing, a closure member between the shaft and the housing and having an extension projecting into the housing, the extension being imperforate between the bottom of the shaft and the reservoir and having an opening positioned to one side of the shaft; substantially as described.

24. In a device of the character described, a housing having a lubricant reservoir, a shaft extending into the housing, a bearing between the shaft and the housing, a closure member between the shaft and the housing and having an extension projecting into the housing, the closure member being secured 'to the housing and there being a space between the extension and the housing beyond said bearing, the end of the extension having a guide face for the bearing, the extension being spaced from the shaft and interposing an imperforate obstruction between the reservoir and the bottom portion of the shaft, and the extension having lateral openings extending through it at the sides of the shaft; substantially as described.

RICHARD J. BRITTAIN, JR. 

